GREEN BAY - Aided by more than 120 temporary workers making up to $25 per hour, county clerks across Northeastern Wisconsin on Thursday will begin their recount of ballots cast in the 2016 presidential election.

A judge's ruling that the work could be done by machine rather than by hand will reduce the time needed for the recount, several clerks said. But the work still could take a week or more, and officials say there's no way to tell exactly how long it will take to recount thousands of ballots.

"We're hoping to be done by next Thursday," said Shawano County Clerk Pam Schmidt.

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Retired Brown County deputy clerk Susan Laabs explains to election workers how the recount will work.

The money isn't coming from county coffers. Green Party candidate Jill Stein and independent candidate Roque De La Fuente this week paid the state almost $3.5 million to cover the estimated cost of recounting nearly 3 million presidential ballots. Officials in the state's 72 counties would have until the end of the day Dec. 12 to complete the count.

The tight time frame set off a scramble to find people willing to work a week — or more — of 10-hour days. In Brown County's case, it required rental of space in an Ashwaubenon office building, and an arrangement with the county sheriff's office to provide round-the-clock security.

Green Party 2016 presidential nominee Jill Stein.(Photo: USA Today)

Once the count is complete, counties will bill the state for their actual costs, Brown County Clerk Sandy Juno said. If money is left over, it will be returned to the Stein campaign. Stein is also seeking a recount in Michigan.

Brown County workers will begin moving ballots to Ashwaubenon about 8 a.m. After several hours of setup, Juno said, the count likely will begin about noon.

Here's what's happening in area counties:

Voter rolls, toilet paper rolls

Marinette County officials are working to make the process as smooth and enjoyable as possible for staff, canvassers and tabulators.

Clerk Kathy Brandt was at Walmart at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday "buying coffee, caffeine and chocolate." She planned to spend part of Wednesday night burning Christmas music CDs to make the atmosphere more festive. But that wasn't how the county has been most creative.

"Our facility guys are pretty tech-savvy," she said. "When I put a call out for something to hold the rolls of ballots, (they found a way to modify) toilet paper holders."

Varying pay rates

Brown County and several others are paying their temporary workers $25 per hour, or $250 per day. Juno said she believes people paid less would refuse to work consecutive 10-hour days. Door, Manitowoc, Oconto and Shawano counties are also paying $25 per hour.

But one county is paying considerably less, and it has a local law on its side.

"We are paying $60 a day," said Kewaunee County Clerk Jamie Annoye. "That is what is in our personnel policy … apparently that needs to be updated."

Outagamie County will pay $75 for a shift of more than four hours, but $50 for a shift of less. Workers also can charge 54 cents per mile to and from their homes.

Marinette will pay canvassers $25 an hour; tabulators get $18. Neither get mileage or reimbursement for meals.

Machine over man

With roughly 130,000 votes cast in Brown County, Juno wanted to count as many ballots as possible by machine. Solution: Renting a machine that will allow large numbers of ballots to be loaded and scanned.

The machine was on its way Wednesday afternoon from a vendor in eastern Nebraska. Cost for the machine and transportation: $41,000.

Without the device, staff and temporary help would have had to feed every ballot by hand. One at a time.

How many people does it take?

Door County Clerk Jill Lau hired five people to assist her small staff. Outagamie County's Lori O'Bright is bringing in 38, not all of whom work full days.

Brown County will have about 25 additional people working 10-hour days, "and plenty on a waiting list," Juno said.

Kewaunee County will have a total of nine, including staff.

Manitowoc County will have 10 additional workers, with more in reserve. Oconto County plans on about 25. Shawano County has 15.

Marinette County's Brandt was less concerned about the numbers. "Whoever shows up," she said, "we will put to work."

And how long?

Lau said the Door County count could take as few as four days, or as many as seven.

Kewaunee's Annoye estimated her count at six days, with people working 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Manitowoc's Lois Kiel expects her count "to take through next Thursday."

dschneid@greenbaypressgazette.com. "Like" PGDougSchneider on Facebook and follow him on Twitter @PGDougSchneider. Madeleine Behr contributed to this report.

A stack of ballots is added to the table for recounting on Thursday, December 1, 2016, in Ashwaubenon, Wis. A statewide recount of ballots began Thursday. Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein's campaign paid the $3.5 million cost of the recount.
Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wi

Recount observer Hampton Williams, representing the Donald Trump campaign, looks at his notes on the first day of the statewide presidential recount. Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein's campaign paid the $3.5 million cost of the recount. USA TODAY NETWORK-Wi